The visitors Name Bashir in Squad for The Ashes series First Test

The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including slow bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five fast bowlers

Wood is declared fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision possibly between spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four specialists plus all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the quickest collection of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in Australia

Earlier this week local groundsman McDonald commented to look for "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely England will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29

England have supported the young spinner, 22, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in spring he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game after claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third match at the famous ground in July

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been out with a broken finger and had challenges in the single preparation match against England Lions, posting overall statistics of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the prospect of him playing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

His contract at the domestic team ended at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Still, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90mph - remains the most likely outcome

The first Test starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

While a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that won at domestically in the famous series of that year contained Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to the host nation in that era had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent memory - England are aiming to reverse an poor history - they have failed to win a five-day game in Australia since that year

Just five players of the extended squad have participated in a international Test in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he mentioned to reporters

"There have been a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic group

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to do something special"

Host Team Situation

The host team's practice session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood